"Near the turn of the 20th century both the United States and Europe saw a surge of artistic and popular interest in the depiction of night—not only in works by such noted masters as Whistler, Homer, and Remington, but also beautiful moody nightscapes by lesser-known artist like Henry Ossawa Tanner and Ralph Albert Blakelock. There's much good social history here along with great illustrations and Yale's standard high-quality book design."
Publisher Yale University Press
Publication Date 2018-07-17
Section Art / All Staff Suggestions / Nonfiction Suggestions / Alan H.
Format Hardcover
ISBN 9780300223996
A beautifully illustrated look at the vogue for night landscapes amid the social, political, and technological changes of modern America
The turn of the 20th century witnessed a surge in the creation and popularity of nocturnes and night landscapes in American art. In this original and thought-provoking book, Hélène Valance investigates why artists and viewers of the era were so captivated by the night. Nocturne examines works by artists such as James McNeill Whistler, Childe Hassam, Winslow Homer, Frederic Remington, Edward Steichen, and Henry Ossawa Tanner through the lens of the scientific developments and social issues that dominated the period. Valance argues that the success of the genre is connected to the resonance between the night and the many forces that affected the era, including technological advances that expanded the realm of the visible, such as electric lighting and photography; Jim Crow–era race relations; America’s closing frontier and imperialism abroad; and growing anxiety about identity and social values amid rapid urbanization. This absorbing study features 150 illustrations encompassing paintings, photographs, prints, scientific illustration, advertising, and popular media to explore the predilection for night imagery as a sign of the times.
